A press release detailing Banner Health reinstating no visitor policy at all Arizona locations, going into effect at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22

Banner Health is pleased to join local health organizations Mayo Clinic and Dignity Health (CommonSpirit Health), as well as other top U.S. health systems, in a "Mask Up" promotion campaign designed to encourage everyone to wear a mask as protection for themselves and others against COVID-19.

Banner Health hosted a COVID-19 press conference with speaker Dr. Marjorie Bessel, chief clinical officer at Banner Health. Dr. Bessel addressed topics such as capacity, staffing, current treatments available, vaccine distribution and mitigation efforts.

Banner Health enhances visitor restrictions in Northern Colorado. Restrictions now to include locations in addition to hospitals

This Buffalo News article discusses the racial disparities impacting the residents of Erie County during the pandemic. The article claims that the pandemic shined a light on the racial disparities as more African American community members were becoming infected and dying from COVID.

This CNN article discusses a recent letter sent out by Gov. Doug Ducey's education adviser, that said requiring unvaccinated students to quarantine after a COVID exposure is against state law because Arizona does not require students to be vaccinated or wear face masks. I am from NYS and this is drastically different than what Gov. Andrew Cuomo is requiring and/or recommending for students in public schools and state universities. It is bizarre how different states and governors are handling the COVID and vaccination situation.

This article from the Associated Press discusses a study done by Nevada-based scientists, that have found a correlation between wildfire smoke and positive COVID cases. The study showed that "for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter of small particulate matter known as PM2.5 in the air, the positivity rate increased about 6.3% two to six days later". The study acknowledges, however, that the uptick in cases may be from other factors, such as a second surge, or students going back to school. Although further studies are required, the study done by the Nevada scientists may suggest that higher pollution levels can make people more prone to viruses.

This CNN article/photos show how the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is impacted by COVID for the second year in a row. The article states that, typically, 2 million Muslims worldwide go to Mecca for the Hajj, but this year, it is expected that only 60,000 residents will attend. Worshippers must be fully vaccinated and nonresidents are not allowed to attend.

This article discusses "misleading claims and outright lies about COVID-19 vaccines that proliferate on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter". According to the article, 12 people are behind the majority of the misinformation surrounding COVID and the vaccine that leads to conspiracy theories. Many of these theories have led some social media users to avoid the vaccine and ignore scientific facts. It is scary to think that such a small group of people are in control of so much of what we see on social media. What this small group shares and communicates to users are so widespread... I can't open a social media app without seeing some sort of conspiracy theory about COVID or the vaccine. We are so close to overcoming the pandemic, but this type of misinformation is holding us back.

My grandmother's birthday is in May, so last year, during the beginning of the pandemic, we were unable to visit her and celebrate her birthday or Mother's Day. So, we sent her a nice card, and in it, my brother and boyfriend made up the poem. It reads "roses are red, violets are blue, when coronavirus is over, we'll come see you! xoxo Owen + Andrew"

Have work to do? Not on Romeo's watch!! While we have been working and learning from home, Romeo loves to sit on our laps in front of the computer and help us with our work. The video shows what he does nearly every time someone in the house is typing on a keyboard.

The pandemic has brought the issue of health inequity in the United States, based on factors such as race and ethnicity, to the forefront. Racial and ethnic minority populations make up a disproportionate essential workers. Poverty restricts access to health care for many individuals. The country must address these issues of health equity and social justice now and continue to address it t ensure the health and safety of all those living in the United States. The website provides references, information, and data on the link between ethnicity and race and COVID-19.

Language is ever evolving, and an event such as the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly led to new words and phrases in the English language and to new definitions for existing words and phrases. It remains to be seen which words that were coined during the pandemic will survive long-term and which ones will remain in a dictionary rather than in regular usage. This article, describing the English language from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), describes changes in British, Indian, Canadian, and Australian English during these pandemic times. It discusses the speed of the linguistic change brought about by the pandemic and the coining of new words and phrases and new definitions of existing words and phrases.

Information on COVID-19 must be available to all individuals if the US as a society and as a country are to successfully deal with this virus and prevent deaths and illness. This information must be available in a variety of languages other than English to meet the needs of those who are not proficient in the English language. The CDC created a website with a wealth of information and materials for individuals in languages other than English, including materials for migrants and refugees. The CDC also has a website for Spanish-speaking individuals.

Before the pandemic, most people didn't know many of the terms associated with epidemic diseases and SARS-type viruses. In order to understand what was happening, people had to quickly acquire a whole new vocabulary. This article from Yale Medicine helps define some of the most critical and widely used terms.

In this article, Dr. Aaron Bernstein, Director of Harvard Chan C-CHANGE, answers questions about how climate change and COVID-19 are related. He discusses the problems that animal agriculture causes for both the environment and human health. Hopefully, more people will hear the words of a world-renowned scientist and make the change to veganism like I did 4 years ago.

This article captures images of the continuations of and changes in rituals around the globe during the pandemic.

This article discusses why Arizona's Covid rate was the highest in the country as of February 1, 2021. Contributing factors included a lack of mask-wearing and cross-border traffic.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Blog published this article which contains the words of 5 different experts on health inequity during the pandemic.

Banner Health team members collect samples from patients to test for COVID-19. More information available at http://bannerhealth.mediaroom.com/COVID-19info.

Members of Banner Health's Innovation Team convert sterilization wrap into surgical masks in an effort to conserve supplies. More: http://bannerhealth.mediaroom.com/masks

Ten nurses from Banner Health’s Arizona hospitals are heading to northern Colorado to assist their colleagues at the Banner-owned hospital in Greeley, North Colorado Medical Center.

To protect our patients and health care workers, Banner Health is erecting triage tents at several of its medical centers to process patients upon arrival.

The 3D printing community is coming together to ensure Banner Health employees have the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need. Manufacturing is taking place across the Banner Health service area.

Members of Chinese American COVID-19 Relief AZ deliver thousands of masks to Banner Health medical centers, including this delivery to Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.

Chief Clinical Officer Marjorie Bessel, MD, outlines ways Banner Health is ensuring our facilities are a safe place for care for patients. Changes include using thermal cameras to detect fevers and continuous masking.

Entrevista con Melody Nungaray-Ortiz en Español. Nungaray-Ortiz es una miembra del equipo de ECMO en Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.

Interviews with members of the ECMO team at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix describe efforts underway to treat patients with severe symptoms associated with COVID-19.

Nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians and others throughout Banner Health work around the clock to care for patients with COVID-19. B-Roll available for download, editing and broadcast.

Members of the ECMO team at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix show how they use special equipment to stabilize and treat patients who are unable to maintain blood oxygen levels.

Banner Health team members administer COVID-19 tests at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. B-Roll is available for download, editing and broadcast. More info: http://bannerhealth.mediaroom.com/COVID-19info

Cox Business donate more than $200,000 worth of filtration and surgical masks. Community partners such as Cox Business continue to show their support for Banner Health's frontline health care workers.

Banner Health experts are encouraging cardiac screenings for student-athletes as new research has revealed potential heart damage as a potential after effect from COVID-19 infection.

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer of Banner Health, is on site at Arizona State Fairgrounds where Banner is administering thousands of vaccines.

Interview with Nancy Zismann, chief clinical services officer, Banner Health Zismann talks about Banner's vaccine operations. As of Feb. 5, 2021, Banner has provided more than 130,000 vaccines.

Samantha Chapman, Ambulatory Pharmacy Operations coordinator, speaks about how Banner prepares and handles vaccines administered at Arizona State Fairgrounds.

Banner Health vaccination experts demonstrate the correct handling of COVID-19 vaccine at demonstration at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in central Phoenix.

B-roll of Banner Estrella Medical Center in west Phoenix where more than a thousand COVID-19 patients have been successfully treated during the pandemic.

Pritesh Patel, MD, speaks about what it was like to provide ongoing care for COVID-19 patients and families at Banner Estrella Medical Center in west Phoenix.

Sarah Asel, RN, talks about what it is like to care for COVID-19 patients and the joy she experiences as one returns to thank her and colleagues for their care.

Debbie Olsen, a former COVID-19 patient, returns to say thank you to the "life-saving'' doctors, nurses and staff who treated her for this life-threatening virus.

Both Banner Estrella and Banner Thunderbird Medical Centers celebrated 1,000+ lives saved from COVID-19. Each hospital reached that milestone within a few days of each other.

Interview with Medical Director Steven Erickson, MD, as well as a physical therapist and a patient about COVID-19 effects on myocarditis, including diagnosis and treatment.

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer at Banner Health, provides a system-wide update on Banner's response to the COVID-19 surges in many of the states it serves.

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer of Banner Health, talks about the pandemic, increasing numbers of hospitalizations and what to expect in coming weeks

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer of Banner Health, provides the latest updates on how the health care system is caring for a patient surge during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief medical officer of Banner Health, provides an update about how the six-state healthcare system is handling teh COVID-19 surge.

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer of Banner Health, gives an update on how the health system is dealing with the pandemic and the importance of masking up to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer of Banner Health, gives an update on how the health care system is managing the COVID-19 surge in six states.

Marjorie Bessel, MD and other metro Phoenix health leaders discuss how their health systems are handling the challenges of Arizona's record number of cases.